Liquid dispensing apparatus



March 23', 1937. c. M. DRINKWATER I LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Original Filed March 16, 1931 March 23, 1937. c. M. DRINKWATER 2,074,541

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS 7 Original Filed March 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE Application March 16,

1931, Serial No. 522,834

Renewed February 14, 1936 9 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing bulk liquids, and has for its primary object to provide an improved method and means for dispensing the liquid in visible measured 5 quantities in a manner to prevent unauthorized adulteration or substitution of product before it reaches the consumer. Another object is to provide an improved apparatus for expeditiously dispensing liquids of a viscous nature such as 1 lubricating oils, and so arranged as to exclude dust and other foreign matter from the liquid up to the time it reaches the consumer. A further object is to provide an improved apparatus of the character mentioned which is arranged for is creating a head of compressed air in the dispensing receptacle when the liquid is supplied thereto for insuring prompt discharge of the liquid therefrom under the pressure of said head of compressed air. A still further object resides in the 20 provision of improved apparatus which insures dispensing of an exact measured quantity of liquid at the discharge end of the nozzle, and which corresponds to the measured quantity indicated as discharged from the visible dispensing receptacle. The invention consists in certain features and elements of construction, in combination, as herein shown and described and as indicated by the claims.

In the drawings:

30 Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portable liquid dispensing unit embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a topplan view.

Figure 3 is a view in rear elevation, with the adjacent container omitted.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the dispensing receptacle and mounting therefor, parts in section, taken substantially as indicated at line, 4-4, on Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical section through a bulk o liquid storage container used in conjunction with the present invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view through the indicator of the dispensing receptacle taken at line, 6-6 on Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the safety valve device of the dispensing receptacle for limiting the air pressure therein.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a modified construction showing a single dis- 50 pensing unit and its universal mounting.

For purpose of illustration the present invention is shown embodied in a portable apparatus, providing temporary storage for a limited. quantity of one or more liquids, or liquids of various 55 grades. Apparatus of this general character may be advantageously used for dispensing liquids, particularly liquids of a viscous nature, such as lubricating oil, and is designed for convenient use I in garages, service stations, and similar places where it is desired to deliver measured quantities of oil directly to the motor of an automobile. Although the invention as shown and described is especially suitable and intended for use for dispensing lubricating oil, it is to be understood that the invention includes certain basic principles which may be readily adapted for use in dispensing various liquids of a different nature.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the apparatus includes a portable vehicle unit or cart, having a frame, It, carried by a pair of main supporting wheels, II, at opposite sides thereof, and which are preferably located offcenter to the main load. For insuring balance and stability of the cart the rear end of the frame is provided with a pair of swivel caster wheels, indicated at l2. For moving the cart from place to place, there is provided suitable handles or grips, herein indicated at I3, formed from a piece of pipe which is bent and connected adjacent the top and bottom respectively to the upright portions, Ili of said frame. For convenience in illustration I have shown an apparatus designed for dispensing two different liquids or a liquid of two different grades, (that is, specific gravities), which is believed to be adequate for exemplifying my invention.

At opposite ends of the supporting base, l of the frame are bulk storage containers, l5, which may be understood to be of considerable size, depending upon the nature of the liquid to be dispensed, and in the case of lubricating oils, these containers preferably are of fiveor tengallon capacity. The containers may be formed with any suitable type of inlet opening for filling, and as shown in Figure 5 they are provided with an up-standing neck, l5, which is internally threaded for receiving the cap, IE, which is locked to the flange, lfi of the neck of said container by a padlock, ll, to prevent unauthorized removal of said cover. The cover is locked to the container at the source of filling and is not intended to be removed at any time until the container is again returned for re-filling. Thus if the padlock, IT, is broken or is unlocked, it is evidence that possibly the contents of the container have been adulterated or substituted. To further insure against possible tampering with the contents of the container, additional means in the nature of a conventional form of seal may be applied in addition to the padlock,

so that if the seal is broken there is clear evidence of tampering and is notice to the parties in charge thereof. The cover, 16, for convenience is provided with the discharge outlet and is formed with centrally located oppositely extending bosses both on the upper and under side thereof as indicated at I 6 and [6 the latter having a permanent threaded connection to a standpipe, 18, which extends downwardly into the container and has its lower end provided with a conventional type of valve, l9, and as shown, includes a ball, 19 as a valve element for controlling the port, I9 which is located about flush with the bottom of the main portion of the container, H5. The extreme lower end of said standpipe is provided with a strainer, as indicated at 2 I, which encloses the inlet end of said standpipe and is disposed in the sump or centrally located recessed portion indicated at 15 located in the bottom of the container, as seen in Figure 5. The bottom of the container is preferably formed With a slight slope toward the sump so as to drain the contents therein and by virtue of this construction substantially the entire quantity of liquid in the container may be removed through the standpipe. Threaded exteriorly on the boss, Ili on the upper side of the cover is the wing nut, 23, which provides the detachable connection of the lower end of a conduit, 24, to the container. This detachable connection, as will hereinafter appear, is intended to permit quick replacement of bulk storage containers as the contents are used therefrom, and the conduit, 24, is preferably a flexible hose, for

convenience.

The upper end of the conduits, 24, of the respective containers are connected to individual pumps indicated at 26, carried on the cross support, Ill of said frame, 10, which pumps are of a usual construction and serve to withdraw the liquid from the containers through the conduits, 24, and their standpipes, I8. The suction imparted through the conduit by the action of the pump is normally sufficient to lift the ball valve element, m off of its co-operating port, I9 to permit the lubricating oil to be drawn therethrough into the standpipe. To prevent discharge of the liquid through the standpipe before the container is connected to a conduit, 26, I employ a coil spring, 2'1, in the valve housing, Which reacts against the ball valve, w and normally tends to maintain it seated. It is to be understood that this spring is of just sufficient tension to maintain the ball valve seated and thus prevent the liquid being discharged through the standpipe, except when there is sufficient suction, such as by action of the pump, so as to overcome the effective pressure of the spring. This feature of construction is also important, in that it positively prevents re-filling the container through the standpipe, I8. When the containers are shipped from the main filling station the discharge opening in the cover which communicates directly with the standpipe may be sealed against dirt and foreign matter by means of a suitable cap (not shown) threaded onto the exterior of the upstanding boss, I6 of the cover.

Each of the pumps is connected by conduits, 28, preferably in the nature of a flexible hose, the opposite or discharge ends of which connect into the bottom of separate dispensing receptacles indicated generally at 30. These dispensing receptacles include a top member, 3|, and supporting base, 32, which seal the ends of a transparent continuous glass wall, 33. Thus the liquid is discharged into the dispensing receptacle by means of the pumps, 26, and for safety in the event of leakage in some of the connections, the discharge end of the conduits, 28, connect to an upstanding extension, 34, in said receptacle which terminates adjacent the top thereof in a reverse bend, as indicated at 34 so as to discharge the liquid in a downward direction. Thus any tendency of the pump to reverse itself and suck the liquid from the receptacle is prevented in so far as the liquid which is actually discharged through the reverse bend, 34.

In the initial set-up of the apparatus the receptacles are filled with atmosphere at normal atmospheric pressure and it is tobe understood that the receptacle is substantially air-tight and is sealed against exterior atmospheric pressure. Thus when the liquid is injected into the dispensing receptacle by the pump the volume of air therein is compressed and when a substantial amount of liquid is discharged into the receptacle this compressed head of air is under substantial pressure and is in effect a storage of potential energy which subsequently is employed in forcibly ejecting the liquid from the dispensing receptacle. The discharge opening from said receptacle is preferably provided adjacent the bottom, 32, and includes a connection to a flexible conduit or hose, 36, which is of substantial length and whose outer end is provided with a conventional type of discharge nozzle indicated at 31, When the apparatus is first put into operation it is preferable to open the discharge nozzle, 31, at the end of the hose, 36, as the lubricant is pumped into the receptacle so as to insure filling up the hose with the lubricant, and thus avoid having a sealed volume of atmosphere in the hose when the container is filled with liquid. This feature is of considerable importance since it insures dispensing at the discharge end of the outlet hose, 3B, or nozzle, 31, a quantity of lubricant which corresponds exactly to that indicated as dispensed by the recession of the liquid level in the container, as may be noted by the graduated indicator designated at 39, adjacent the receptacle.

The indicator, 39, includes a tubular portion slidably mounted on an upright rod, 40, and is provided with a plurality of graduations indicating volume of liquid in the receptacle at various levels. The indicator is vertically adjustable and is provided with .a set screw, 4|, for firmly securing it at any position along the rod, 40. The purpose of this adjustment is to permit dispensing of a certain preferably small quantity of liquid under a desired pressure,-and also to align the graduations with any level of the liquid in the container. By virtue of the construction as described, it is apparent that when there is liquid in the dispensing receptacle the volume of air therein has been compressed, and is under pressure, the amount, of course, depending upon the volume of liquid therein. Practically at all times while there is any liquid in the receptacle to be dispensed, it is under pressure of the compressed head of air, and of course when the receptacle is filled, to say approximately three-fourths its capacity, the pressure exerted by the compressed head of air on the liquid will be substantially greater for discharging the liquid through the hose and nozzle than when the liquid in the receptacle is filled only a quarter of its volume. However, the pressure on the liquid in the receptacle, regardless of the quantity, at all times is adequate Cal for insuring rapid dispensing of the liquid through the conduit, 36, and nozzle, 31. This feature is considered to be of great importance, in that lubricating oils even though they are of a viscous nature, can be expeditiously dispensed under the-pressure of the compressed head of air in the receptacle. Increased viscosity of the liquid such as caused by change in temperature does not offer any obstruction in dispensing the liquid, because of the pressure of the compressed head of air, and it is to be reckoned that this problem of increased viscosity in lubricating oils is of considerable concern, especially in the cold seasons, which renders pouring of the oil such as from a can, as in the manner now customarily employed, unduly slow, requiring considerable time of an attendant in holding the can during the discharge of the proper or desired quantity of oil. Furthermore, this apparatus wholly eliminates the possibility of contamination of the oil by virtue of it being exposed, as is frequently customary, in using the open uncovered cans, prior to the time it reaches the consumer, during which time dust and other foreign matter may easily collect and thus contaminate the oil. Such contamination may cause serious trouble since the oil is usually sup plied directly to the engine of an automobile.

In order to prevent building up too great a pressure in the dispensing receptacle, 36, I preferably provide a safety valve in the top, 3|, which, as shown in Figure 7, includes a valve casing or housing, 43, provided with a valve port, 44, controlled by a conical valve element, 45, which is normally held to its seat by a coil spring, 46, reacting against the under side of the valve and an internal shoulder, 41, of the adjusting nut, 48. This nut, 48, is internally threaded in the upper end of the casing, 43, for varying the tension on the spring, 46, so that the valve may be caused to move off of its seat for relieving the receptacle of the excess air pressure, when it exceeds a predetermined amount. To provide a continuous air passage through the inlet, 44,

- and through the adjusting screw, 48, there is provided one or more apertures, 49, which communicate exteriorly. The stem, 45*, of the valve element protrudes through and is guided in the top of the adjusting screw, 48, and may be manu ally engaged for releasing the valve, and thus reducing the pressure in the receptacle at any time. In the event that the valve, 45, is automatically opened due to excessive pressure or when it is intentionally actuated to partially relieve the pressure in the receptacle above the liquid level, the liquid may be still dispensed under the pressure of the retained head of compressed air. However, when the valve has been operated as mentioned, it will be apparent that as the liquid level recedes a partial vacuum is created in the receptacle which would normally hamper and actually prevent flow of the oil through the hose, 36, when the nozzle, 31, is opened. To overcome such conditionsI preferably provide a safety valve which will automatically vent the receptacle to atmospheric pressure when a partial vacuum is created so that the remaining quantity of liquid in the receptacle may be freely discharged by gravity, and then of course when the receptacle is again filled with liquid the air therein which is substantially atmospheric will again be compressed so as to afford the additional pressure or potential energy which had heretofore existed. The safety valve for venting the receptacle to atmospheric pressure when a vacuum is created therein is for convenience shown formed integrally with the housing, 43, of the excess pressure valve, and includes a conical valve element, 5|, co-operating with an exteriorly open port, 52, in a valve seat element, 53, threaded in the end of a tubular extension, 43 of the housing. The stem, 5|, of said valve is guided at its rear end in a screw plug, 54. A coil spring, 55, encompasses the stem and reacts between the under side of the head of said valve and said plug and may be understood to be tensioned for venting the receptacle to atmospheric pressure just as soon as the pressure in said receptacle tends to approach a partial vacuum or is reduced below atmospheric pressure.

For convenience the two dispensing receptacles, 30, are mounted on a common supporting base, 66, which itself is carried by a centrally located upwardly extending standard in the nature of a rod indicated at 6|, which is mounted for universal movement on a supporting frame, 1, which is mounted on the cross frame member, I6 as seen in Figure 1. The lower end of the rod, BI, is rigidly anchored in a spherical ball,

62, which is journaled for universal adjustment and seated on the inner race element, 63, of the roller bearing indicated at 64, which is seated in a recessed chamber, 65, of the element, 66, carried on the upper end of the frame member, I0 A friction clamp nut, 61, is threaded on the upper end of the ball race retainer element, 66, and has an inner surface formed to engage the curved surface of the ball element, 62, so that as the nut is threaded on said housing and it frictionally engages the surface of the ball element and thereby retains the receptacles, 30, in any desired position of adjustment. This construction will prevent the receptacles from swaying freely when the cart is moved from place to place, but will permit the adjustment of the receptacles as a unit so that the axis of each receptacle may be brought into perpendicular relation to the surface level of the liquid so as to insure dispensing an exact measured quantity of liquid. To stabilize the two receptacles on the upright support, 6|, I preferably provide a counterbalancing action in the nature of a counterweight, 69, carried at the lower end of the supporting rod, 10, the upper end of which is secured in the universal ball. A shield, 12, is rigidlysecured to the support, 6|, just above the ball, 62, and serves to deflect water, moisture, dust, etc. from the universal ball-and-socket connection so as to insure freedom of movement at all times. This shield also has another purpose, that is, to serve as a stop in limiting the angular, range of adjustment of the receptacles about this universal connection by its outer or peripheral edge coming in contact with the upper surface of the clam nut, 61.

Figure 8 discloses a slightly modified form of the, present invention only in so far as it shows a construction including a single receptacle indicated at 80, supported by its own individual universal'mounting. It is to be understood that in this case the clamp nut, 61, normally may be so adjusted as to permit the receptacle to freely adjust itself for maintaining its liquid level in horizontal alignment at practically all times. In this construction the supporting base, 8|, of the receptacle is preferably in the nature of a spider or armed element so as to provide ample space for accommodating conduit connections to the receptacle for both the inlet and discharge conduits, 28 and 36, respectively.

It is manifest that by virtue of the apparatus herein described, it is now possible to insure dispensing a liquid in bulk quantities in uncontaminated form direct to the consumer and because of the particular form of containers employ-ed for the bulk storage it will be possible under normal conditions to remove the contents of the container without a pumping or suction apparatus, and it also will be impossible to re-fill the container without removing its cover. This feature of the invention is considered of prime importance since in certain industries, and more particularlythe oil industry, it insures and provides a method for distributing the bulk lubricant without any possibility of substitution or unauthorized adulteration after the container leaves the main filling station.

Although I have shown and described a particular embodiment of the present invention, it is manifest that it is capable of modification and rearrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not therefore wish to be understood as limiting myself to the particular embodiment herein shown and described, except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a dispensing receptacle which is normally sealed at substantially atmospheric pressure, a bulk storage container for the liquid, a conduit connecting said receptacle and said container, and means interposed in the conduit for withdrawing the liquid from the storage container and forcibly discharging it into the receptacle and thus compressing the volume of air therein and creating substantial potential energy, the receptacle having a discharge opening for dispensing the liquid under pressure of said compressed air, said con nection of the conduit to the receptacle being adjacent the bottom and including an extension projecting upwardly into said receptacle and terminating adjacent the upper end thereof.

2. A portable fluid dispensing apparatus including a wheeled cart and supporting frame, a dispensing receptacle normally sealed at substantially atmospheric pressure, .a support therefor on said frame including a universal connection comprising a spherical member journaled for universal adjustment in a cooperatively formed bearing, a depending counterweight connected to said spherical element, a bulk storage liquid container carried on said frame, a conduit connecting said storage container and dispensing receptacle, a pump interposed in the conduit for withdrawing the liquid from the container and forcing it into the receptacle for compressing the volume of air therein, said conduit including a flexible portion adjacent the receptacle to permit said receptacle to automatically adjust itself freely by virtue of its universal bearing support for causing the axis of the receptacle to assume a Vertical position, a discharge conduit opening off of the bottom of the receptacle for discharging the liquid under pressure of the head of compressed air in said receptacle, and means associated with said spherical element for locking said dispensing receptacle in any desired position of adjustment thereon.

3. A portable fluid dispensing apparatus including a wheeled cart and supporting frame, a dispensing receptacle normally sealed at substantially atmospheric pressure, a support therefor on'said frame including a universal connection comprising a spherical member journaled for universal adjustment in a cooperatively formed bearing, a'depending counterweight connected to said spherical element, a bulk storage liquid container carried on said frame, a conduit connecting said storage container and dispensing receptacle, a pump interposed in the conduit for withdrawing the liquid from the container and forcing it into the receptacle for compressing the volume of air therein, said conduit including a flexible portion adjacent the receptacle to permit said receptacle to automatically adjust itself freely by virtue of its universal bearing support for causing the axis of the receptacle to assume a vertical position, and a discharge conduit opening off of the bottom of the receptacle for discharging the liquid under pressure of the head of compressed air in said receptacle, and said co-operating bearing of the universal connection consisting of a ball-bearing race for reducing the frictional contact of the spherical element in its bearing.

4. 'A portable fluid dispensing apparatus including a wheeled cart and supporting frame, a dispensing receptacle normally sealed at substantially atmospheric pressure, a support therefor on said frame including a universal connection comprising a spherical member journaled for universal adjustment in a cooperatively formed bearing, a depending counterweight connected to said spherical element, a bulk storage liquid container carried on said frame, a conduit connecting said storage container and dispensing receptacle, a pump interposed in the conduit for withdrawing the liquid from the container and forcing it into the receptacle for compressing the volume of air therein, said conduit including a flexible portion adjacent the receptacle to permit said receptacle to automatically adjust itself freely by virtue of its universal bearing support for causing the axis of the receptacle to assume a vertical position, a discharge conduit opening off of the bottom of the receptacle for discharging the liquid under pressure of the head of compressed air in said receptacle, and a shield extending over the upper portion of said spherical element to protect it from water, moisture, dust, or the like.

i 5. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a dispensing receptacle which is normally sealed at substantially atmospheric pressure; a bulk storage container for the liquid, a conduit connecting said receptacle and said container and means interposed in the conduit for withdrawing the liquid from the storage container and forcibly discharging it into the receptacle and thus compressing the volume of air therein and creating substantial potential energy, the receptacle having a discharge opening for dispensing the liquid under pressure of said compressed air, and the outlet of said conduit opening into the receptacle adjacent the upper end thereof.

6. A liquid dispensingapparatus comprising a dispensing receptacle which is normally sealed at substantially atmospheric pressure; a bulk storage container for the liquid, a conduit connecting said'receptacle and said container and means interposed in the conduit for withdrawing the liquid from the storage container and forcibly discharging it into the receptacle and thus compressing the volume of air therein and creating substantial potential energy, the receptacle having a discharge pipe leading downwardly for dispensing the liquid under pressure of said com pressed air, and the outlet of said conduit opening into the receptacle adjacent the upper end thereof.

7. A liquid dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 5, including a detachable connection in the conduit between the bulk storage container and the dispensing receptacle to permit removal and replacement of the container, a section of the conduit being removable with the container upon disengagement of said connection, and a check valve in said section of the conduit, said valve opening in the direction of flow from the container into the conduit but seating against flow in the opposite direction to prevent refilling of the container through its section of the conduit when disconnected from the receptacle.

8. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising, an air-tight dispensing receptacle containing air under not less than atmospheric pressure, a liquid storage container, a conduit connecting said receptacle and said container, and means interposed in the conduit for withdrawing the liquid from the storage container and forcibly discharging it into the receptacle and thereby compressing the volume of air contained in the receptacle, said receptacle having a discharge opening for dispensing the liquid under pressure of said compressed air, said conduit discharging into said receptacle above the maximum liquid level therein.

9. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising, an air-tight dispensing receptacle containing air under not less than atmospheric pressure, a liquid storage container of the non-refillable type, a conduit disengageably connecting said receptacle and said container, and means interposed in the conduit for withdrawing the liquid from the storage container and forcibly discharging it into the receptacle and thereby compressing the volume of air contained in the receptacle, said receptacle having a discharge opening for dispensing the liquid under pressure of said compressed air and said conduit discharging into said receptacle above the maximum liquid level therein.

CHARLES M. DRINKWATER. 

